A former detective known for investigating religious cult ‘The Family’ has taken his skills and passion for policing into a different realm - helping the families of police. Lex de Man was involved in some of the best-known cases in Victoria’s policing history, including exposing a religious cult in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs for exploiting more than a dozen children. Now, as the chief executive officer of Victoria Police Legacy (VPL), and reflecting on his many achievements, he remarkably attributes its genesis to a roll of salami. In December 1977, aged 17, having left school in Year 11, Mr de Man was employed at a local supermarket where he had an argument with a manager. “It was a silly dispute with the delicatessen manager, over a salami roll,” he said. “I was in charge of the dairy case and this manager put one of her salami rolls in the dairy fridge and when I told her to move it she didn’t, so we had a blue over salami,” he recalled, smiling.
It was while investigating a primary school fire in Monbulk as a detective in the Arson Squad in 1987, that he was told one of its students was from a local religious cult.
“My desire is for every member of Victoria Police to talk about VPL and recognise its support towards police families who have lost loved ones,” he said.
This was the so-called cult known as ‘The Family’ from the late 1960s, based at Ferny Creek in the Dandenong Ranges and run by Anne and William Hamilton-Byrne.
“We’ve now got more than 1,000 police legatees including 160 children and we’re getting more at a younger age, with our youngest being 10 months old, to our oldest legatee who is 106.”
Anne deemed herself as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
Ninety per cent of Victoria Police members contribute towards VPL and Mr de Man hopes one day this figure will be 100 per cent.
Over seven years, the couple indoctrinated 14 children through members of the cult, illegal adoptions, changing their identities, falsifying birth certificates and subjecting them to strict discipline and rituals including dyeing their hair blonde and making them wear identical clothing. In later years came claims of children being subjected to beatings, starved, frequently dosed with psychiatric drugs and upon reaching adolescence, being forced to take part in initiations involving the drug LSD. In 1989 Mr de Man joined the Victoria Police taskforce, Operation Forest, which culminated five years later with the extradition of the couple who had fled to the USA.
“It changed my life forever because I was so angry and I never normally went home for lunch, but on this occasion, I did, and walked past the Greensborough Police Station where I noticed a sign on the window saying ‘Join Your Force Now’.”
They were to face conspiracy to defraud and perjury charges in Australia, but eventually pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to the lesser charge of making a false declaration and were fined $5,000 each. It was deemed there was not enough evidence to press more serious charges.
Fuelled by frustration, it was the catalyst for a brilliant career but only after convincing his mum to sign a consent form to become a police cadet that led to 18 years’ service in Victoria Police.
“I was hoping for a maximum penalty but in the end she pleaded guilty with her husband on perjury charges (relating to the falsification of birth certificates) and was gutted by the lenient penalty,” Mr de Man said.
Four months earlier in September 1977, he joined the Country Fire Authority (CFA) as a volunteer with Yarrambat Brigade and after 10 years was appointed Captain.
William died in 2001, while Anne, 95, lives in a nursing home with dementia.
“The experience that I was gaining at Victoria Police actually helped me in the CFA leadership role and vice versa and I suppose that was one of the reasons I ended up in the Arson Squad,” Mr de Man said.
“It’s one of those things that as a member and contributor you might not see a benefit because you may not be here, then on the other hand, you may have lost a partner and need support,” Mr de Man said. “When a member or a member’s partner tells us their son or daughter is ready for driving lessons and we say ‘don’t worry, we’ll pay for that’ or they’re off to university and VPL will help pay their HECS bill, you know, it’s a great thing.”
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“She is the most evil person that I have ever known,” Mr de Man said. In 1995 Mr de Man left policing for a position with the CFA and worked in various executive roles over 20 years including during the Black Saturday bushfires. Nowadays Mr de Man enjoys a more sedate role at VPL, driven by an ambition to have every police member lend their support towards this non-profit organisation.
Find out how to support Victoria Police Legacy at policelegacyvic.org.au
Image Strong support 01 Mr de Man is focused on supporting police families who have lost loved ones. 02 As a young police constable. Editorial: Chris Metevelis Photography: Shane Bell POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2018
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